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Cholesterol has come under fire in the recent years, so much so that Amercians are being prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs at an alarming rate.

In fact, in 1994, 2% Americans aged 45 and older were taking statins. In 2011, it had risen to 25% (1). Most of these people are prescribed statins as a prevention measure against cardiovascular disease.

However, the Huffington post reports that a recent scientific review of 14 studies shows that statins are virtually useless for primary prevention.

The analysis, published by The Cochrane Collaboration reviewed studies involving a total of 34,000 people.

They found that the studies over-reported positive results and under-reported negative ones. Some of patients were also already suffering from cardiovascular disease, and since most positive results occur in people with CDV, this provided false positives in the drugs preventive capabilities.

The meta-analysis also criticized the terrible side effects and steep financial cost of the drug.

What Do Statins Do?

Why Are They Bad?

Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body, particularly in your brain. In fact, your liver produces cholesterol to keep you healthy.

HDL (good) cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol). When their delicate balance is out of whack, particularly ifLDL levels get too high, heart disease can occur.

On the other hand, HDL helps your body produce hormones, vitamin D and bile. It also forms cell membranes, facilitates communication between cells and is crucial for the growth and maintenance of the brain. HLD cholesterol also helps clear LDL cholesterol from your arteries.

Statins doesn’t just affect LDL cholesterol, it also prevents the liver from producing HDL cholesterol. This prevents HDL from conducting all the important tasks mentioned above.

Another reason why this drug causes so many different problems is because it blocks a cholesterol-creating enzyme that is needed to make coenzyme Q10. This biochemical sparkplug and antioxidant is found in every cell, especially the heart where it protects and nourishes mitochondria, tiny structures that produce energy.